Tali Wiru (Day 2)

It is time to tell the readers a secret. People rave on and on about the 'Sounds of Silence' dinner at Ayers Rock Resort. This dining experience takes you to a location where you enjoy a buffet dinner. You are seated in groups with people from other nationalities. It is all good if you like buffet dinners and lots of people, but for a more refined a la carte and personal experience the Tali Wiru dinner is for the foodies.

For $329 per person you are taken to a small dune and seated on a personal table. We had 8 other couples with us, we were the only group of 3. The menu is a la carte with matching wines. The evening starts with a bus ride to the dune. We had to walk up to the dune where canapes and champagne await.

The canapes were:

• Gorgonzola Cheese Tartlet (very yum)
• Sweet Potato and Lemongrass Soup
• Western Australian Tuna Tartare with Finger Lime Caviar (mmmMMMMM)
• BBQ'ed Hervey Bay Scallops (yum yum)

Entertainment was by a local didgeridoo player.

After canapes we were taken to our table where we enjoyed a candlelight dinner. There was no electricity on the dune. The chefs, waiting staff and us all relied on either a gas cooker, torches and a single candle on the table for the night. Heat was provided by several radiantly placed wood fire heaters. 

We had entree and mains and saw the stars! My selection was the Butter Poached King Prawns, Macadamia and Lemon Myrtle Crusted Barramundi Fillet (Gaaarrrgh).

Waiter serving another table under touch light. This is a long exposure so the star trails were captured

Now before anyone asks, yes there were insects but it wasn't as bad as you may think. They were more concerned about the light than our dinner. Occasionally one flew into your wine glass but the staff always gave you a new glass and a top up.

TIP: Drink fast and hope for a bug, that way you get more wine.

See how clear the stars are at night!

Dessert was a Dark Chocolate and Chilli Mousse with my favourite dessert wine De Bortoli 'Noble One'.

The night rounded off with all of us around a fire with a first Australian sharing his experiences with us.

The night ended with a story around a camp fire with some fine XO

Needless to say all of us stumbled cheerily to the bus as our experience ended!